The pervasive, unflattering image of middle managers as unnecessary bureaucrats belies the essential role they play in organizations.

PROGRESS ONTHE FRONT LINES Work Jam CEO Steven Kramer sayshe does see middle-manager workloadseasing among front-line workers. STRETCHED THIN Middle managers have long spoken outabout the difficulties they have in trying tocommunicate and enforce directives from companyleaders without having a say in or knowing the fullreasoning behind those executive decisions. "Thereneeds to be clear alignment betweenmiddle managers and leaders on whatit means for managers to be successful.[Leaders must] ask managers whatthey believe gets in the way of theirsuccess and try to find a solution.". [Extracted from the article]